FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM) Pavement Effects Implementation Study: Progress Report 1

The Volpe Center Acoustics Facility, in support of theFederal Highway Administration(FHWA), investigatedthe implementation of pavement effects inthe FHWA Traffic Noise Model (TNM). Three options were considered, resulting in the recommendation of two options: 1) implementation of user-defined pavement-specific emission levels (REMELs), with proof of adequate data; and 2) implementation of on-board sound intensity (OBSI)-adjusted tire/pavement noise source levels, implemented as a large database in the FHWA TNM and also as a user-defined option. Each option would also include adjusting for the pavement sound absorption by applying pavement-specific effective flow resistivity (EFR) values.